This page features resources for engineers who were educated or who practice outside the United States and who are seeking to become licensed in the United States.
In addition, there is information on the NCEES International Registry, which is for those currently licensed in the United States who are seeking recognition to practice in another country.
Engineers in the United States use the P.E. designation when they are licensed by a U.S. state or territory. There is no single, nationwide license that allows engineers to practice across U.S. state lines. State licensing boards grant the P.E. license when licensure candidates meet a combination of requirements in education, experience, and exams.
State laws limit the practice of engineering to licensed professional engineers, which means that a P.E. is required for such things as:
While each U.S. state/jurisdiction has its own laws concerning professional licensure, the requirements for the P.E. license generally follow this outline:
We encourage you to contact the licensing board in the U.S. state or territory where you plan to apply for licensure to find out its specific requirements.
Because international licensure candidates typically have degrees from programs that are not accredited by EAC/ABET, most U.S. licensing boards require candidates to have their academic credentials evaluated. NCEES offers a Credentials Evaluations service that compares a candidate’s academic background to established criteria. It then provides this information to the U.S. licensing board where the candidate is applying to sit for an exam.
If you have Chartered Engineer (CEng) and IntPE statuses in the United Kingdom, you may apply for a P.E. license in the U.S. states listed below via the new mutual recognition agreement (MRA). If not a CEng on the U.K. International Register for Professional Engineers, please contact ECUK ([email protected]) to inquire about applying for its International Registry.
Alaska
Idaho
Nevada
North Carolina
Utah
Steps for professional engineer (P.E.) license application (you must have IntPE status in good standing on the UK International Registry before proceeding):
1. Create a MyNCEES account at ncees.org.
2. Create an NCEES Record at ncees.org/records.
3. Complete the MRA Multistate Section Requirements—Details per section are given in NCEES system. Special MRA instructions are below.
4. Once the application is complete with all sections green, purchase a transmittal ($100) to one of the above member boards. The file will be given a special MRA badge to notify boards.
Please review the Records FAQs for more information. Informative HELP information per multistate section is on the right side of the page.
Transmittal of your Record does not constitute an application for licensure. Please follow up with the respective board to find out if additional information is needed. Each board will have additional fees and jurisdictional procedures. Member licensing board information can be found at ncees.org/licensing-boards/.
If you are an IRPE Record holder licensed in one of the participating states, please ensure all Record prerequisites are current and use the “Purchase IRPE Transmittal” drop down option on your account dashboard to transmit to the UK under the MRA.
More information from the ECUK on the Chartered Engineer (CEng) application steps can be found here or by contacting the ECUK directly at [email protected].
If not on the NCEES International Registry for Professional Engineers (IRPE), see below for information and requirements.
NCEES has agreements with the following foreign entities to administer an NCEES exam in those countries. The locations, exam offerings, and scheduled exam administrations are available on the engineering and surveying exam pages.
The NCEES publication Criteria for Evaluating the Administration of Exams at Non-U.S. Sites (PDF) describes NCEES policies, criteria, and processes related to NCEES exam administration at sites outside the United States.
The NCEES International Registry for Professional Engineers (IRPE) assists U.S.-based professional engineers who are seeking recognition in countries that are members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) or the International Engineering Alliance (IEA), formerly the Engineers Mobility Forum (EMF).
As a candidate for the International Registry, you will be required to submit a sworn statement attesting to any sanctions received for violations of applicable licensing laws.
If you did not declare an engineering discipline during the licensure process, you must declare your area(s) of expertise when applying for the International Registry.
If you are an existing Record holder and wish to apply for the NCEES International Registry, you may do so via your MyNCEES account.
The International Registry program is for engineers currently licensed in the United States, who are seeking recognition to practice in another country. To become licensed in the United States, you must meet the requirements set forth by each U.S. state where you wish to pursue licensure. There is no single, nationwide license that allows engineers to practice across U.S. state lines. You can use the NCEES Record to make it easier to apply to each individual state.